My 2 1/2 month old is a night owl. She is unable to fall asleep before 11:30 every night, despite my attempts to put her down much earlier. I follow a routine every night. I try to put her down when she is drowsy. I've tried when she is awake. 've tried when she is asleep. We've used rocking, white noise, you name it. And she screams relentlessly. She also suffers from acid reflux, for which she is on medication. Any advice for a mother going back to work soon who wants some sleep??
I would talk to a homeopathic practicioner. They have lots of amazing old ideas that allopathic doctors have forgotten about over the past 60 years.
Hello A.-
It sounds like you are doing everything you possibly can. Does she nap during the day? Sometimes an over tired child has a harder time falling asleep at night. It can also work the opposite. If she is naping during the day, then maybe I would stop that. My children are horrible sleepers. The are 11, 9 and 6. We have never slept through the night. They insist on being with one of us. We have also tried the white noise, the beds in the same room and nothing has ever worked. I do know when they were your daughters age an overtired or to rested of a child kept them up late. Good luck and if anyone has any advice on getting my kids to sleep through the night, please let me know.
C. W.
Well we had the same problem. At least u have medicine.lol We tried many things but what worked was putting a pillow under her matress in the crib or if she is in the basinette a small blanket will do just to raise the head some we also had to let her sleep in the bouncer or the carseat i know it dont sound very comfortable but it works the acid has a chance to stay down while the lil one gets some sleep. We also played alot of Don Williams, baby lullbies, or just alot of cartoons yes at two months just a couple of suggestions hope you find relife soon always a mom at peace Mrs.Long
Maybe if you fed her a little earlier, sometimes that acid reflux just burns when they lay down, but if it is digested a little further than maybe she won't have it so bad.
Yes, cut out her nap, if she still takes one. Both my kids slept much better at night when they quit taking naps!
GL:)
No sleep catches up with you real fast doesn't it? How does your daughter fall asleep during the day? I would try the same routine if it works well during the day. Stick with a routine that works with you too. It might take several days, even a week or two. I've read to start ten minutes earlier every couple nights and gradually the sleep will come. But limit the amount of attention given at night, definately give her what she needs (diaper, food, etc.)but talk less, lights low; seperate night from day. I am a mother of three, 9,7,20 mos. They all had very different sleep patterns. Good luck
The poor little angel. I would say beings she is only 2 and a half months old that all you can really do is switch formulas. If you are breastfeeding I would highly suggest you watch what you eat and follow the guidelines for if you had GERD so it helps her. You could also prop up her mattress at an angle. It will help quite alot. I hope she starts getting some sleep. For her sake as well as yours. Nothing worse than a sick baby.
Do you breastfeed? If no, have you talked to your ped about changing formulas? When my daughter was about your daughter's age, she had some problems with acid reflux and our ped suggesting changing formulas as well.
Hi,
My daughter also seemed to suffer from a little bit of acid reflux, and I was really hesitant to put her on meds for it (although they offer medicine for it - talk to your doctor). I had a cradle swing, and I put her to sleep in it - so she could sleep comfortably reclined. It really helped to have her propped up like that. I didn't have a cradle swing for my first child, and he'd pop his eyes open IMMEDIATELY upon being laid on his back. He was an awful sleeper too. Do you use those 0-9 month blanket sleepers at night? I just cut a horizontal slit in it between the legs so that I could still buckle her in, and she slept in the swing until she was probably 6 months and the reflux seemed to subside. Good luck - I know it feels like an eternity until they finally start sleeping through the night.
Happy Holidays!
A.
Rice cereal before bed helped my daughter go to sleep and stay asleep. Also propping up the mattress on her bed. For the first month or two she slept wonderful in her carseat. Looked very uncomfortable to me but she slept better so I figured it couldn't be too bad. Even though she's on medicine for acid reflux, it may not be working or working as well as it should. I'd try propping her a little and see what happens. Maybe swaddling too. The flailing arms always bothered my kids and swaddling seemed to help. Keep her awake as much as possible during the day or cut naps shorter. Then she'd be tired enough to sleep at night.
My 13 month old son was the same way. I thought I was going to lose my mind. I took by son to the chiropracter when he was two months old on the advice of my boss and he stopped screaming his acid reflux was better (we tried two medic ations for reflux but they did not help) and he started sleeping. I did have to think long and hard about this before I took him but I am glad I did. Talk to your doctor and research local chiropractors. Good luck.
I went through the same thing with my daughter who also had acid reflux. I feel for you! The only way I could get her to sleep for the first 3 months was laying with me on the couch. I know that sounds unsafe, but one can only go without sleep for so long. Our ped. told us to elevate one end of the mattress in her crib, try having her sleep more up right such as in a bouncy seat or car seat. That seemed to help us. When you said you can't even get her down after she is asleep, that really makes me think it is the reflex and the upright position might help. Good luck!! It does get much better!
I've seen a wedge-shaped positioner in the baby stores that you can put under the sheets and it goes from one side of the crib to the other. It keeps baby inclined about 30 degrees. I was going to try it myself but things started getting better so I didn't buy it...
My baby used to go to sleep rather late, too, but started going to bed earlier and earlier as he began to eat more and get older. Some people think a little rice cereal before bed can help babies sleep--you might talk to you pediatrician about it.
Sometimes if I think my baby has general indigestion, I rub his belly clockwise around the belly button or in a heart shape from just above the belly button up to his chest and down to just below the belly button (learned this from Mommy-Baby Yoga class).
Also, there could be something else going on with your baby if she screams a lot. Again, you might talk to the doc.
see my private message.
Go down to your local herb store and purchase some catnip/ fennel. It usually comes in a mixture, just ask the person behind the counter. Not only will it help your child sleep, it will really help that acid reflux, big time. You will thik you have a new kid. The fennel helps her relax, the catnip helps digest what she has eaten. It is 100% safe and effective. I always use it when I am ready to have my kids sleep through the night.
Good luck.
